On Monday, May 4, 2026, Indian start-up Hoverit, based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, announced on social media the first ground tests of the Divyastra Mk-2 unmanned aerial system, whose overall architecture resembles the Iranian Shahed-136. A video of the tests was published.
Photo: Hoverit
According to trade media reports from April 13 this year, the company is developing two projects: Divyastra Mk-1 and Divyastra Mk-2, with the second model expected to feature an increased flight range from 500 km to 1,500–2,000 km.
They are intended to carry a warhead weighing between 50 and 100 kg, with a cruising speed of about 180 km/h and an endurance of 8 to 12 hours. After reaching the target area, the drone accelerates in the terminal phase to 300–400 km/h.
According to the manufacturer, the share of Indian-made components and subsystems in both variants is expected to reach as much as 95%.
The command-and-control system architecture reflects lessons learned from the use of Shahed/Geran loitering munitions in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East over the past three years. The system uses an artificial intelligence-based solution for swarm flight, together with encrypted data links and jam-resistant navigation designed to operate in environments without GNSS/GPS signals.
The unmanned aircraft is designed to be launched from a platform mounted on a vehicle, as Hoverit has just demonstrated. The launch is rocket-assisted, eliminating even the need for a runway. Hoverit describes Divyastra Mk-2’s main mission profiles as strategic deep-strike operations in the enemy rear, as well as long-range reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence.
The Indian proposal is another clone of the Iranian Shahed-136, following the U.S. LUCAS (Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System), also known as FLM 136 and Artemis, and, more recently, Poland’s PLargonia.
After successful High Speed Taxi Trial
Now: Vehicle based launch completed
Next: Rocket assisted takeoff#DivyastraMK2 – 3.2m wingspan
One of the largest platforms in its class built by an #Indian #startupThis is not a single test.
This is system engineering in layers.… pic.twitter.com/pivI4HqVop— Hoverit (@KAWAUAVPVTLTD) May 3, 2026